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Choosing to pursue an education was one of the decisions that had the biggest impact my life, and what got my Cinderella story started.

It might be the most impactful decision you make, too. How do you choose a major when more than one degree sounds interesting?

I assume that if you are reading this post you are either:

A. Deciding what (or if) you will study; or,

B. Considering changing majors.

The goal of this post is to raise awareness about factors that should be considered when choosing a college major. I did not take into account many (ok, most) of these things when choosing my first major.

I was a young mother with an unsupportive husband; all I knew was that if anyone was going to give my daughter and me a better life, it would have to be me. I saw education as a way out of poverty. In the end, earning my degree certainly did get us out of poverty-–but it almost didn’t.

If I would have stuck with my first major of choice, I highly doubt my life would be as good as it is now.

That’s why I want to share some things I learned the hard way.

1) What will your earning potential be?

Yes, I’m listing money first. This may not be popular advice, but I’m going to keep it real with you.

“They” say that money should not be the biggest factor in your decision. “They” say that you should only base your decision on subjects you find interesting and enjoyable, and that you are naturally good at. But guess what?

“They” won’t pay your bills.

Decide what income bracket you need to be in to have the lifestyle you want. This will depend on many factors:

–Are you in a commited relationship with a good partner, or are you single with all the burden on your shoulders? Even worse, are you staying in a bad relationship because you are not currently financially independent? If so, you must choose VERY carefully so that you can stop putting up with less than you deserve.

–Do you want to study and sacrifice for 4 years+ to make barely more than what you already make, or do you want to have a different lifestyle?

–Are you happy staying around town all the time, or do you want to take an international vacation every year?

–Are you ok with renting an average apartment, or do you want to buy a house one day, even if you don’t have a partner?

–Do you feel comfortable living paycheck to paycheck, or do you want to earn enough income to save and invest every payday?

This is just food for thought. There are no right or wrong answers–we all want different things. What makes me happy may not make you happy. Things that are important to your mother may not be important to you. Think about what you want YOUR life to be like.

2) What is the job demand projection?

How many jobs are available that require your major? How many jobs are projected to be available within the next 10 years?

Do your research. Remember, you’re going to be spending years juggling studying, working, and relationships. Difficult is not the word to describe the amount of time, effort and sacrifices you will make to earn that degree.

I know people who have graduated with their bachelor’s (and second bachelor’s and master’s) who are working as cashiers, customer service reps, restaurant servers, babysitters and administrative assistants. Nothing is wrong with having these jobs, because they are very important to society. However, these are all jobs I had before even going to college. So just make sure you won’t be wasting your time majoring in something that will not make you more employable after you graduate.

3) Is this industry prone to layoffs?

Some work is seasonal, meaning there may be a lot of work during certain times of the year, and almost no work at other times. Will you earn enough during the busy season and be disciplined to save so that you can get through the slow times?

I’ll use my own experience as an example:

In my industry (oil and gas), our work directly relates to the price of petroleum products, which can change almost every day. When the price is stable for several years, we tend to fare very well; however, when the prices drop for long periods of time, companies are forced to lay people off or do pay cuts. So when times are good, we should be frugal and save and invest wisely, so that if we get laid off or take a pay cut, we will be ok for awhile until we find more steady work. It is cyclical; however, if we make wise choices, we can still do well in the long run.

If you are not good at budgeting, will be tempted to spend lots of money and live at (or above) your means and take on debt…you probably need to consider doing something that does not depend on the price of oil or the economy.

4) Where will you have to live?

Keep in mind that the career path that interests you may not have lots of job opportunites or pay well where you live. However, your prospects might be very good if you are willing to move to another city or state.

If you are not willing to relocate for work, or not willing to move to the areas where that line of work is lucrative, you might need to consider other options so that you can do well and stay local.

Another option is commuting to work. This is not for everyone. But if you want to stay in the town you live in, but are willing to drive an hour or so each way to a bigger city, this definitely is an option to at least consider.

5) What will your lifestyle be like?

Some jobs are Monday through Friday 8AM-5PM jobs (I have never encountered that mythical “9-5” that people always talk about…really, who works that schedule?)

Some jobs in the medical field may require working 12 hour shifts just 3-4 days a week. While the workday is longer, you’d get more days off.

When I worked on offshore drilling rigs, I usually worked 13-16 hours a day for 14 days at a time, then had 14 days off. The day I had to report to work, I had to drive for hours to the heliport (in the wee hours of the morning), then take a 2 hour helicopter flight to the rig. It was hard to be away from my daughter and partner so long, but I sure loved the time off! We took a lot of trips, and I got to hang out a lot more with my friends who were stay at home moms. I was a working mom half the time and a stay at home mom the other half!

The job I currently have requires a lot of travel, both domestic and international. It is exciting, I learn a lot and meet a lot of people; but it can get exhausting at times, and the travelling oftentimes triggers allergies and can make it easier to pick up illnesses. Of course I miss my daughter when I have to travel. The benefits are that I don’t always work out of town, and usually get a week off a month. Even when I don’t get my week off, I am grateful that I get more weeks off in a year than most people.

So find out what the lifestyle is like for the career you’re considering, and if you think you’d be able to adapt to it, or at least adapt to it long enough to get your foot into the industry you want to work in.

6) Will you be happy in this line of work?

What would be the most fulfilling for you? For some people, being around a lot of people fulfills them. For others, taking care of sick people. Others need to help prepare children for their futures.

For me, one thing I need to feel satisfied at work is mental stimulation. I cannot get bored; I must always be learning something and improving my skills. In the past (before and during college) when I had jobs for a year and felt there wasn’t much more I could learn, I’d usually end up miserable at work.

Make sure that whatever you choose will be fulfilling and enjoyable for you, and bonus points if it makes you feel you are making a difference in the world (which I believe we all are capable of doing, regardless of what line of work we’re in).

7) How will you handle child care?

Do you have kids now, or want to have kids in the future? Keeping in mind the type of work schedule you will probably have, start planning how you will arrange childcare and school transportation with your work schedule. Do you have a good supportive family and friends, or are you pretty much on your own? Be optimistic, but realistic.

8) How many years will you need to study?

Some certifications at community colleges may be earned in just 6 months. These are definitely worth checking out! Don’t assume that a 4 year degree is always necessary. See what options are available that could get you a better income or work schedule in a relatively short amount of time. They do exist!

A bachelor’s degree is not the magic ticket. I ended up earning my degree in geology (which is one of the best decisions I ever made). However, I was a bit disappointed when I applied for jobs during my senior year. Most companies would not even hire an intern who wasn’t at least enrolled in grad school. It is much easier to get work as a geologist with a master’s. Since I was not in the position to enroll in grad school at that point in my life, I ended up taking a slightly different (yet still related) path. I am totally fine with this, and have really enjoyed the ride. I just didn’t know that a master’s would be necessary for my original plan.

See how many years, if any, that you need to be successful in your future career. If a college degree is not required…well just get skip it and get started already!

9) Do you have an aptitude for this degree?

The reason I put aptitude last is because most of the time, we are capable of doing way more than we give ourselves credit for.

The only reason I did not start out as a geology major is because I didn’t have knowledge of math or sciences. I couldn’t even calculate percentages or do algebra. I had to take remedial courses. I knew nothing besides addition and subtraction, and a little multiplication and division…very little.

I thought I wasn’t smart enough and that I’d never be able to pass those classes. However, I took the plunge and switched to geology during my second semester. The projected job outlook and income for my first major did not look good at all, so I knew I needed to get smart and make a better decision. Was I really going to let math keep me from getting the kind of life I wanted?

I had to withdraw from some classes more than once, and even ended up failing a few. But the important thing is that eventually, I got through ALL of them and have a bachelor of science in geology. No employer has even asked for my transcript–the important thing is that I got the degree! (Ironically, I use lots of math every single day at work, teach people math, and am now working on my MSc. Petroleum Engineering. I didn’t let math beat me!)

Wrapping it up:

Choosing between college majors is a tough decision. However, if you think about these 9 things, it should help to narrow down your options.

Of course, if there is only one thing you are passionate about and you cannot imagine doing anything else, and that is the reason you are on this earth, then go for it! Do what will make you the happiest and most fulfilled.

Feel free to add to the list. What helped you choose your college major?